muzzle

[muhz-uhl]

noun

1. the mouth, or end for discharge, of the barrel of a gun, pistol, etc.

2. the projecting part of the head of an animal, including jaws, mouth, and nose.

3. a device, usually an arrangement of straps or wires, placed over an animal's mouth to prevent the animal from biting, eating, etc.

verb (used with object)

muzzled, muzzling 

1. to put a muzzle on (an animal or its mouth) so as to prevent biting, eating, etc.

2. to restrain from speech, the expression of opinion, etc..

   The censors muzzled the press.

   Synonyms: suppress, still, quiet, silence

3. Nautical.,  to attach the cable to the stock of (an anchor) by means of a light line to permit the anchor to be pulled loose readily.

muzzle

/ ˈmʌzəl /

noun

1. the projecting part of the face, usually the jaws and nose, of animals such as the dog and horse

2. a guard or strap fitted over an animal's nose and jaws to prevent it biting or eating

3. the front end of a gun barrel

verb

1. to prevent from being heard or noticed

   to muzzle the press

2. to put a muzzle on (an animal)

3. to take in (a sail)

Other Word Forms

• muzzler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of muzzle¹

1350–1400; Middle English musel < Middle French < Medieval Latin mūsellum, diminutive of mūsum snout < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of muzzle¹

C15 mosel, from Old French musel, diminutive of muse snout, from Medieval Latin mūsus, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Madame Ionesco scratched the enormous beast on the muzzle as if she were a much-loved pet.

Read more on Literature

The Incorrigible children slid more gracefully off their mounts and began to sniff at the air, while the three smaller wolves ran in tight circles, whimpering and skimming their muzzles along the ground.

Read more on Literature

The weapon was now at his shoulder, and the muzzle was aimed straight at the Incorrigibles.

Read more on Literature

After taking power in a coup in 1965, the former general changed the country's name to Zaire, installed a single-party system, muzzled the opposition and embezzled taxpayers' money with abandon to fund an extravagant lifestyle.

Read more on Barron's

Leading news organizations are rejecting new rules for the press laid out by the Pentagon, saying they would muzzle reporters and undermine decades of coverage of the U.S. military.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• censor 
• choke 
• clamp down on 
• crack down on www.thesaurus.com
• muffle 
• repress 
• restrain 
• squelch 
• stifle 
• suppress